downtown
November 8, 2012 Volume 11 • Number 45 50¢ Newsstand Price
INSIDe
LIGHTS IN THE NIGHT
Homelessness Action Plan – page 2
November 22 • 4-8pm
also
www.kcbia.com 250-372-3242
A Burlesque fan-’tache-y – page 5 your neighboUrhood. your newspaper.
A tour of walking in another man’s shoes Kamloops author and historian, Sylvia Gropp’s passion for teaching history to people of all ages is vividly expressed through the knowledge and lively commentary she bestows upon the Kamloops Museum and Archives’ downtown walking tours. Her tours bring history to the forefront of conversation and she has information that you just couldn’t get if you were to wander around on your own. Sylvia has worked on contract with the Museum for over ten years and is co-writing a book with the Museum and the Thompson Rivers History and Heritage Society. She has a Bachelor of Arts with concentrations in Archaeology and Geology and has participated in digs on First Nations reserves and the Wildlife Park. “She’s a one smart lady and we’re lucky to have had her work with the Museum for over ten years,” Melissa Baker, Kamloops Museum and Archives educator, says. A special Remembrance Day tour is scheduled that recognizes the importance of discovering and preserving local history. The continued sharing of these stories ensures that the memory and sacrifices of our war veterans are never forgotten. These guided tours offer a way to explore historical icons
and famous people of our past. Melissa informs, “It’s just another way to commemorate those who participated in the war. Many veterans are buried in Kamloops. We have had many requests from the public for more information on the war and on Kamloops participation. They wanted more specific information so this is primarily focused on Remembrance Day soldiers and their participation in the war.” Sylvia will present the results of research surrounding the Pleasant Street Cemetery. In 1898 the city purchased land for this non-denominational cemetery. Kamloops experienced rapid growth in population during the 1890’s, and it
was recognized that the city would soon require more burial space. The date of the first interment in this cemetery was May 28, 1900 and since this time many local members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been laid to rest at the Pleasant Street Cemetery. In 2009 a works and horticultural initiative was completed at the Veterans Memorial Plaza. Twenty-five headstones commemorating War Dead from the First World War were replaced. These improvements to the site and markings serve to perpetuate remembrance and honour our past war veterans with deserved respect. This tour also explores the property at Sixth and Pleasant Avenue known as Old Men’s Provincial Home Cemetery. Although only a few headstones remain, Sylvia will expand on the claim that thousands of men who worked on the gold fields are buried here. A history of the Kamloops Gaol, a prisoner facility that housed notorious Billy Miner as an inmate, will also be discussed. Over its operational lifespan, the prison carried out 17 executions. You can learn about who tried to escape from the prison and more as Sylvia brings the characters of Kamloops past to life. – continued on page 2
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